Rohid can reel off hair-raising tales of murder and violence that were commonplace under the Taliban

Rohid's father held a respected job as a civil engineer designing roads in Afghanistan

Rohid's family fled Afghanistan when he was three. This file picture showing Taliban fighters is from 1997, a year after the religious zealots came to power

‘The shards of glass fell on the bed. If my mum had been there she would have been dead.’Rohid’s father, who worked as a civil
engineer, decided to risk everything by fleeing the country with his
wife and two children.

Their journey took them across 3,500 miles, including crossing rivers in Russia in a leaking rubber dinghy.

Rohid said: ‘My mum was scared we were going to sink. She put her hand on the hole.

‘I was really scared. After that we had to wait for a van and the van broke down so we had to go through a forest.

‘There were wolves and dogs, everybody was just so scared.’

The family also became separated at one point.

They spoke no English when they
arrived in Hull but they soon adapted and were allowed to settle in the
UK. And Rohid showed his dedication to learning early on.

When the family moved to Birmingham to live near friends, the children weren’t happy.

So Rohid, who was ten at the time,
took matters into his own hands and phoned his old primary school
teacher in Hull to ask if he could return.

Headmaster Brian Roberts said: ‘I was working in my office late when I got a call from Rohid.

Eton College is renowned in the UK as the school of choice for Prime Ministers and Royals

Royal students: Prince William, left, on his first day at Eton and Prince Harry, right, with his house master Dr Andrew Gailey

He said: “Mr Roberts, we are really
unhappy. If we come back to Hull would it be possible to come back to
your school?” I said I was sure it was a strong possibility.’

Rohid's ability also bought him to the attention of both Hull KR and Hull FC, who offered him a scholarship

His plan worked. The family returned to Hull and Rohid later joined the city’s Sirius Academy.
As well as being bright and
hard-working, he excelled at rugby league and athletics. When the school
suggested Rohid apply for an Eton scholarship he jumped at the chance
and was among hundreds who took part in a tough four-day interview
process.

‘Luckily I was picked so I must have done OK,’ he said.

He starts at sixth form in September, studying A-levels in maths, biology, chemistry and physics.
Rohid’s father now works as a van
driver – but the family won’t have to pay a penny of the £30,000 annual
fees and have been given a £1,500 bursary to help cover school uniform
and other expenses.

The teenager now knows there is no
limit to what he can achieve. He hopes to become a surgeon. Commenting
on the Eton life that awaits him, he said: ‘It’s a huge step, a bit like
going to university two years early.

‘But so long as I keep busy I will be able to adapt.

‘I will miss my family and friends but this is too big an opportunity to pass up.’

Mr Roberts, his old primary school
head, said of his move to Eton: ‘It doesn’t surprise me that he is going
on to greater things, because he had that vision of where he was going
in life.’
A spokesman for Eton said yesterday:
‘We are delighted that Rohid has been awarded one of the sixth form
scholarships we offer at Eton.

‘He is obviously an extraordinary young man and will undoubtedly make the most of all the opportunities that Eton offers.’